Safety chain engaging device for gooseneck hitch

ABSTRACT

A safety chain engaging device for a towing vehicle having a gooseneck hitch attached with a rail of the towing vehicle is shown and described. The safety chain engaging device may include a first bracket configured to be secured with the rail of the towing vehicle, and a second bracket attached with the first bracket, the second bracket including a plate member spaced from the first bracket. The safety chain engaging device may also include at least one safety chain engaging member secured with the plate member, where the safety chain engaging member is configured to be laterally spaced from the rail upon securement of the first bracket with the rail.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a safety chain engagingdevice for a towing vehicle and more particularly to an under bed safetychain engaging device for use with a gooseneck hitch.

BACKGROUND

There are many different types of hitches utilized to connect a towingvehicle with a towed vehicle. These hitches attach towed vehicles withtowing vehicles in a variety of ways. Some of the most common types ofhitches include gooseneck, fifth wheel, and rear mount. Gooseneckhitches often allow towed vehicles to be connected to towing vehicles byway of a ball hitch secured to the towing vehicle and a ball socketcoupling mechanism on the towed vehicle. The ball socket couplingmechanism may be mounted over the ball. This configuration allows thetowed vehicle to pivot behind the towing vehicle.

The ball hitch of some hitches, such as a gooseneck, for example, iscommonly mounted in the load bed of the towing vehicle near thelongitudinal centerline of the load bed. Gooseneck hitches are oftenattached to the frame of the towing vehicle under the load bed orattached on the load bed of the towing vehicle. In those gooseneckhitches attached to the frame of the towing vehicles, at least one holeis usually cut in the load bed of the towing vehicle for insertion ofthe hitch ball.

Safety chains are often utilized with gooseneck hitches to provide asecondary means of connection between the rear of the towing vehicle andthe front of the towed vehicle. In order to secure the safety chain, thetowing vehicle may utilize a safety chain attachment device. Thesesafety chain attachment devices, however, often obstruct the load bed ofthe towing vehicle when the hitch is not being used. This isparticularly problematic for under bed gooseneck hitch systems, whichare utilized to avoid such obstruction when not in use. One solution isto drill additional holes in a load bed of the towing vehicle, andsecure a safety chain attachment device to part of the gooseneck hitchattached below the load bed. However, drilling additional holes in thetowing vehicle is often undesirable due to constraints of such towingvehicle.

For example, certain towing vehicles include a frame member that isattached to the towing vehicle frame below the load bed. The gooseneckhitch may be attached with this frame in any appropriate manner. It,however, may be necessary to drill additional holes within this framefor certain prior art safety chain attachment devices. These additionalholes may be extremely difficult to drill or otherwise create as theframe member is often made from a high strength steel or other metalthat makes drilling extremely difficult. Moreover, the holes may beundesirable as they may generally weaken the frame and may voidmanufacturer warranties for the towing vehicle.

A need, therefore, exists for a safety chain engaging device thatprovides an attachment portion appropriately spaced from the gooseneckhitch without requiring holes to be formed through the frame of thetowing vehicle. There is a further a need for a safety chain attachmentdevice that is easy to install and that generally prevents voiding ofmanufacturer warranties.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A safety chain engaging device for a towing vehicle having a gooseneckhitch attached with a rail of the towing vehicle is shown and described.The safety chain engaging device may include a first bracket configuredto be secured with the rail of the towing vehicle, and a second bracketattached with the first bracket, the second bracket including a platemember spaced from the first bracket. The safety chain engaging devicemay also include at least one safety chain engaging member secured withthe plate member, where the safety chain engaging member is configuredto be laterally spaced from the rail upon securement of the firstbracket with the rail.

A safety chain engaging device for a gooseneck hitch of a towing vehiclemay include a first bracket having an aperture, the aperture configuredto engage a hitch ball mount sleeve of the gooseneck hitch, where thebracket is configured to engage a portion of the gooseneck hitch below aload bed of the towing vehicle. The safety chain engaging device mayalso include a second bracket attached with the first bracket, where aplate portion of the second bracket is laterally spaced from the firstbracket, and at least one safety chain engaging member engaged with theplate portion of the second bracket, where the at least one safety chainengaging member is spaced from and free of engagement with the gooseneckhitch.

A safety chain engaging device for a towing vehicle having a gooseneckhitch attached to a transverse frame member of the towing vehicle mayinclude a first bracket configured to secure with the frame member ofthe towing vehicle. The safety chain engaging device may also include asecond bracket attached with the first bracket, the second bracketincluding an engaging portion, where the second bracket is configuredwhere the engaging portion is positioned outboard of the frame memberupon attachment of the first bracket with the frame member, and at leastone chain engaging member secured with the engaging portion.

A method of securing a safety chain engaging device to a towing vehiclehaving a transverse frame member positioned below a load bed of thetowing vehicle may include the steps of providing a first bracket and asecond bracket attached with the first bracket, the second bracketincluding an engaging portion, and securing the first bracket with theframe member of the towing vehicle, where the engaging portion ispositioned outboard of the frame member. The method may further includealigning at least one chain engaging member with the engaging portion,and securing the at least one engaging member with the engaging portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to thedetailed description taken in connection with the followingillustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a load bed of a towingvehicle with a safety chain engaging device in a retracted position andgooseneck hitch with ball attached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a load bed of a towingvehicle with a safety chain engaging device in an extended position andgooseneck hitch attached.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a load bed of a towing vehicle inphantom with a safety chain engaging device and gooseneck hitchattached.

FIG. 4 is bottom perspective view of a safety chain engaging device andbracket attached with a frame of a towing vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a safety chain engaging device attachedwith a portion of a towing vehicle.

FIG. 6 is side view of a safety chain engaging device attached with aportion of a towing vehicle.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a safety chain engaging device attached with aportion of a towing vehicle.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a safety chain engaging device attached witha portion of a towing vehicle.

FIG. 9 is a first side view of a safety chain engaging device attachedwith a portion of a towing vehicle.

FIG. 10 is a second side view of a safety chain engaging device attachedwith a portion of a towing vehicle.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a safety chain engaging device andgooseneck hitch attached with a towing vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand structural and functional changes may be made without departing fromthe respective scope of the invention. Moreover, features of the variousembodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scopeof the invention. As such, the following description is presented by wayof illustration only and should not limit in any way the variousalternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustratedembodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

A safety chain engaging device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 in aretracted position. The safety chain engaging device 100 may beconstructed to securely anchor down a safety chain used with a trailerhitch—such as a gooseneck hitch 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. The safetychain engaging device 100 may be of any appropriate shape or size inaddition to those shown in the figures. The safety chain engaging device100 may be used with any appropriate trailer hitch mounting system, andis not limited to the gooseneck hitch 104 shown.

The gooseneck hitch 104 may be attached with a frame member 108 of atowing vehicle 112. The frame member 108 may be positioned generallyover the rear axle of the towing vehicle 112 and may be positioned belowa load bed 116 of the towing vehicle 112. The frame member 108 may bepart of the frame system of the towing vehicle 112. The frame member 108may be positioned transversely to and attached between side frames ofthe towing vehicle 112. The frame member 108 may include a pair oflaterally spaced recesses 120 that may be positioned immediately belowthe load bed 116.

The frame member 108 may further include an aperture 124 positionedgenerally on or in proximity to a center portion of the frame member108. The aperture 124 may be monolithically formed with the frame member108 or may be formed in a subsequent operation. In some embodiments, theaperture 124 may be formed or otherwise included in the frame member 108contemporaneously with or before the assembly of the towing vehicle 112.A corresponding aperture 128 may be formed in the load bed 116 of thetowing vehicle 112, whereby the aperture 128 is axially aligned with theaperture 124.

The gooseneck hitch 104 may include a gooseneck sleeve member 132secured with or otherwise engaged with the frame member 108. Thegooseneck sleeve member 132 may extend through aperture 128. Moreover,the sleeve member 132 may extend into the aperture 124 and may beoperatively secured with the frame member 108 in any appropriate manner.By way of a non-limiting example, the sleeve member 132 may be welded tothe frame member 108, or may be selectively secured with the framemember 108 such as through use of fasteners or the like.

The sleeve member 132 may include a socket 136 configured to operativelyaccept a hitch ball assembly 140 of any appropriate configuration. Byway of non-limiting examples, the hitch ball assembly 140 may be of atleast one of the configurations shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,783,144, 6,983,950 and 8,011,685 and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.13/666,456 and 13/833,789, all of which are incorporated herein byreference. As shown, the hitch ball assembly 140 may include a ballmember 144 and a body 148. The ball member 144 may be shaped to receivea corresponding socket (not shown) of a towed vehicle, such as agooseneck coupler. It is to be understood that the ball member 144 maybe of any appropriate or conventional shape and size in the towingfield. The sleeve member 132 may operatively accept the body 148 of thehitch ball assembly 140 such that the hitch ball assembly 140 may beoperatively connected with the coupler socket (not shown) of the towedvehicle (not shown).

The sleeve member 132 may include a generally planar top surface 152.The top surface 152 may, when the sleeve member 132 is attached withframe member 108, be generally planar with the load bed 116 of thetowing vehicle 112. The top surface 152 may also be generally axiallyabove or below the load bed 116 of the towing vehicle 112, but in closeproximity thereto.

The safety chain engaging device 100 may include a bracket member 156that may be attached with the frame member 108 in any appropriatemanner. The present safety chain engaging device 100 may be efficientlyattached to the towing vehicle 112. By way of a non-limiting example,the safety chain engaging device 100 may utilize at least one elongatedplate member 160 to secure the bracket member 156 to the frame member108. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of elongated plate members 160 may beused. It should be understood, however, that any appropriate number ofelongated plate members 160 may be used without departing from thepresent teachings. The elongated plate member 160 may include at leastone fastening device 164 attached thereto. By way of a non-limitingexample and as shown, the fastening device 164 may include a pair ofnuts 164 welded to or otherwise attached with the elongated plate member160 in any appropriate manner. The nuts 164 may be generally alignedwith apertures (not shown) in the elongated plate member 160.

The elongated plate member 160 may also include a guide wire 168attached thereto in any appropriate manner. By way of a non-limitingexample, the guide wire 168 may be welded to the elongated plate member160. It should be understood, however, that the guide wire 168 may alsobe adhered or attached via fastener to the elongated plate member 160.The guide wire 168 may be of a configuration to assist the operator inmanipulating the position of the elongated plate member 160 duringassembly of the safety chain engaging device 100 to the towing vehicle112 as is described in more detail below.

The bracket member 156 may include a central portion 172 having agenerally planar portion 176. The generally planar portion 176 may bepositioned generally axially below the load bed 116 of the towingvehicle 112, or more specifically, it may be positioned below the framemember 108 when the safety chain engaging device 100 is attached to thetowing vehicle. The central portion 172 and generally planar portion 176may be of an appropriate shape and size such that they may fit below theframe member 108 and may avoid interference with the other parts of thetowing vehicle 112.

An aperture 180 may be formed in the central portion 172. The aperture180 may be of a shape and size such that the sleeve member 132 may beinserted through the aperture 180. Aperture 180 may be axially alignedwith the apertures 124, 128 when the safety chain engaging device 100 isattached with the towing vehicle 112. The aperture 180 may generallycircumscribe the sleeve member 132. Once the sleeve member 132 isinserted through the aperture 180, the safety chain engaging device 100may be engaged or otherwise secured with the sleeve member 132. Aperture180 may provide clearance for sleeve member 132 to extend below thebracket member 156. Although in some embodiments, the aperture 180 maymerely circumscribe the sleeve member 132.

The bracket member 156 may include a channel member 184 attached with abottom portion 188 of the central portion 172. The channel member 184may be monolithically formed with the central portion 172 or may beattached such as through welding, using adhesive or fastening. Thechannel member 184 may provide additional stiffness and rigidity to thebracket member 156. The channel member 184 may be of any appropriateconfiguration and is not limited to that shown and described herein. Thechannel member 184 may extend axially downward from the central portion172. As shown, the channel member 184 may have a generally C-shapedcross-sectional shape such that when attached with the bottom portion188 of the central portion 172 a void is formed. The void may reduceweight of the safety chain engaging device 100 and may provide theappropriate spacing thereof below the frame 108 of the towing vehicle112.

The channel member 184 may include an aperture 192 generally axiallyaligned with apertures 124, 128 and 180 when the safety chain engagingdevice 100 is attached with the towing vehicle 112. The aperture 192 maygenerally circumscribe the sleeve member 132. Once the sleeve member 132is inserted through the aperture 192, the safety chain engaging device100 may in some embodiments be engaged or otherwise secured with thesleeve member 132. Aperture 192 may provide clearance for sleeve member132 to extend below the bracket member 156. Although in someembodiments, the aperture 192 may merely circumscribe the sleeve member132.

The safety chain engaging device 100 may include a cantilevered portion196 extending from the bracket member 156 and may be spaced therefrom.The cantilevered portion 196 may be attached with the bracket member 156in any appropriate manner. The cantilevered portion 196 may include atleast one plate member 200 attached to the bracket member 156 in anyappropriate manner. As shown in the drawings, the cantilevered portion196 may include three such plate members 200; although any appropriatenumber of plate members 200 may be utilized. The plate members 200 maybe attached with the bracket member 156 such as through welding,fastening, or adhering. In addition, the plate members 200 may bemonolithically formed with the bracket member 156.

The plate members 200 may be positioned generally perpendicular with thebottom portion 188 of the bracket member 156. Further, as shown in FIGS.3 and 6, a portion of the plate members 200 may be attached with thebottom portion 188 of the bracket member 156 and with the channel member184. The present teachings, however, are not limited to thisconfiguration. Any appropriate configuration may be used withoutdeparting from the present teachings.

At least one of the plate members 200 may further include a reinforcinggusset 202. The reinforcing gusset 202 may provide additional stiffnessand rigidity to the plate member 200 to which it is attached. Thereinforcing gusset 202 may be attached to the plate member 200 in anyappropriate manner, including, without limitation via welding,fastening, or adhering. The reinforcing gusset 202 may also bemonolithically formed with the plate member 200. Any number ofreinforcing gussets 202 may be used. By way of non-limiting examples,each plate member 200 may include the reinforcing gusset 202, two of theplate members 200 may include the reinforcing gusset 202 or one of theplate members 200 may include the reinforcing gusset 202. Still further,the reinforcing gusset 202 may not be utilized depending upon thicknessof the plate members 200, material used to form the plate member 200 ora combination of such.

The cantilevered portion 196 may include a plate 204 that may beattached with at least one of the plate members 200. As shown in FIG. 4,the plate 204 may be positioned generally perpendicularly with the platemembers 200 and may be attached with any number of the plate members200. In embodiments that utilize three plate members 200 (as shown inFIG. 4), the plate members 200 may be aligned with two end plate members200 a, 200 b and a middle plate member 200 c. In such embodiments, theplate 204 may be monolithically formed with the end plate members 200 a,200 b while the middle plate member 200 c may be attached in asubsequent operation, such as welding, fastening or adhering. In otherembodiments, all of the plate members 200 may be monolithically formedwith the plate 204. In yet other embodiments, one of the plate members200 may be monolithically formed with the plate 200 and the other twoplate members 200 may be attached such as through welding, fastening oradhering. In yet other embodiments, all of the plate members 200 may beattached to the plate 204 such as through welding, fastening oradhering.

The plate 204, when secured with the plate members 200, may be generallylaterally spaced from the bracket member 156. The plate 204 may likewisebe laterally spaced from the frame member 108 when the safety chainengaging device 100 is secured with the towing vehicle 112. By way ofnon-limiting example, the plate 204 may be positioned fore or aft of theframe member 108, i.e., the plate 204 may extend either toward a cab ofthe towing vehicle 112 or away from the cab of the towing vehicle 112.The plate 204 may, when the cantilevered portion 196 is attached withthe bracket member 156, be generally parallel with the length of theframe member 108. Additionally, when the safety chain engaging device100 is attached with the towing vehicle 112, the plate 204 may generallyextend above the bracket assembly 156. In some embodiments, the plate204 may be in close proximity to or in contact with an underside of theload bed 116 of the towing vehicle 112.

The plate 204 may include a plurality of apertures 208. The apertures208 may be monolithically formed with the plate 204, may be formedthrough a subsequent operation or may be formed during installation ofthe safety chain engaging device 100 as described in more detail below.In some embodiments, the plate 204 may include two sets of pairs ofapertures 208. The first set of pair of apertures 208 may be located onone side of the middle plate member 200 c and a second set of pair ofapertures 208 may be located on another side of the middle plate member200 c. While two sets of apertures are shown and described, the presentteachings are not limited to such. Any appropriate number of apertures208 may be used.

The safety chain engaging device 100 may include at least one safetychain engaging member 212 that may be spaced from the frame 108; i.e.,the safety chain engaging member are not engaged with or otherwise incontact with the frame 108. The safety chain engaging member 212 mayinclude at least one generally U-shaped member 216, which may beinserted into and through apertures 220 in the load bed 116 and theapertures 208 of the plate 204. By way of a non-limiting example, theU-shaped member 216 may include a U-shaped bolt 224 having threaded ends228.

A biasing member 232, such as by way of a non-limiting example acompression spring, may be provided around each threaded end 228 of theU-shaped bolt 224. The biasing member 232 may be held in place by afastening device 236, such as a nut threaded onto the threaded end 228of the U-shaped bolt 224. The biasing member 232 may provide a biasingforce to urge the U-shaped member 216 in a downward direction relativeto the load bed 116 to position the safety chain engaging device 100 ina retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. An operator may pullupward on the U-shaped member 216 with a force greater than the biasingforce of the biasing member 232. This may position the safety chainengaging device 100 in an extended position, as shown in FIG. 2.

While in the extended position, the operator may engage a safety chain(not shown) between the safety chain engaging device 100 and the loadbed 116 of the towing vehicle 112. Once the safety chain is properly fedthrough the U-shaped member 216, the operator may then simply releasethe U-shaped member 216 and the biasing force of the biasing member 232may cause the U-shaped member 216 to move downward to securely hold thesafety chain in place.

Configuration of the safety chain engaging device 100 may makeinstallation onto the towing vehicle 112 efficient. To install thesafety chain engaging device 100 the operator may access the towingvehicle 112 under the load bed 116. The operator may grasp the guidewire 168 of the elongated plate member 160. Using the guide wire 168,the operator may position the elongated plate member 160 within therecess 120 of the frame member 108. The elongated plate member 160 maybe of a shape and size to generally fit within at least a portion of therecess 120. The operator may, using the guide wire 168, position theelongated plate member 160 such that the apertures of the elongatedplate member 160, and the nuts 164 may generally align with apertures(not shown) in the frame member 108.

Once the elongated plate members 160 are appropriately aligned withrespect to the frame 108, the operator may position the bracket member156 in an appropriate position, such as immediately below and adjacentthe frame 108. The bracket member 156 may include apertures 244 that maybe aligned with apertures in the frame 108 and the elongated platemember 160. As the apertures in the elongated plate 160 may be generallyaligned with the nuts 164, the nuts 164 may be generally aligned withthe aperture 244 of the bracket member 156.

Once aligned, fasteners 240 may be used to secure safety chain engagingdevice 100 with the frame 108. Fasteners 240 of any appropriateconfiguration may be inserted into the apertures 244 of the bracketmember 156 and through apertures in the frame 108 and into the nuts 164.In some embodiments, the fasteners 240 may include threads that may beconfigured to engage with the nuts 164. In such embodiments, thefasteners 172 may be threadably engaged with the nuts 164 and securedwith the frame 108. Although the present teachings depict fasteners withthreads, the present teachings are not limited to such. Any appropriatefastening device may be used.

In those embodiments in which the cantilevered portion 196 is alreadyattached with the bracket member 156, once the bracket member 156 isattached with the frame 108, the cantilevered portion 196 may bepositioned appropriately with respect to the frame 108. Specifically,the cantilevered portion 196 or more specifically the plate 204 andultimately the safety chain engaging members 212 may be laterally spacedfrom the frame 108 as described below. This may result in the safetychain engaging members 212 being positioned fore or aft of the frame108.

In those embodiments in which the cantilevered portion 196 is notalready attached with the bracket member 156, the cantilevered portion196 may be attached with the bracket member 156 as described above. Inattaching the cantilevered portion 196 of this embodiment, the plate 204and safety chain engaging members 212 may be laterally spaced from theframe 108. The safety chain engaging members 212 may be positioned foreor aft of the frame 108.

Once the cantilevered portion 196 is attached with the frame 108, suchas through bracket member 156, the operator may install the safety chainengaging member 212. In some embodiments, the operator may utilize thesafety chain engaging member 212, or more specifically, the threadedends 228 of the U-shaped bolt 224 to define the appropriate position forthe safety chain engaging member 212 with respect to the load bed 116.The operator may position the threaded ends 228 of the U-shaped bolt 224in the load bed 116 immediately above the plate 204. The operator maymark the location of the threaded ends 228 and drill apertures into theload bed 116. The operator may also drill apertures into and through theplate 204 if apertures are not otherwise formed therein. Once theapertures are drilled, the operator may insert the threaded ends 228into and through the apertures. The operator may then access theunderside of the load bed 116 and install the biasing member 232 andnuts 236 onto the threaded ends 228. The safety chain engaging device100 may then be available for use.

While the terms bracket and plate have been used herein, these terms arenot intended to be limiting. These terms may be used interchangeablywhereby a bracket may be referred to as a plate member and a plate maybe referred to as a bracket member. The configuration of the bracket andplate may be substantially the same or may be different from that shownor described; the present teachings are not limited to such.

Additional embodiments of a safety chain engaging device according thepresent teachings are described below. In the descriptions, all of thedetails and components may not be fully described or shown. Rather, thefeatures or components are described and, in some instances, differenceswith the above-described embodiments may be pointed out. Moreover, itshould be appreciated that these other embodiments may include elementsor components utilized in the above-described embodiments although notshown or described. Thus, the descriptions of these other embodimentsare merely exemplary and not all-inclusive nor exclusive. Moreover, itshould be appreciated that the features, components, elements andfunctionalities of the various embodiments may be combined or altered toachieve a desired safety chain engaging device without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments, the safety chain engaging device 100 may beattached with the frame 108 through welding it instead of using thefastening device 164 and elongated plate members 160. In suchembodiments, the operator may weld the bracket member 156 directly to anunderside portion of the frame member 108.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoingdetailed description, it is to be understood that the present inventionis not to be limited to just the preferred embodiment disclosed, butthat the invention described herein is capable of numerousrearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing fromthe scope of the claims hereafter.

1. A safety chain engaging device for a towing vehicle having agooseneck hitch attached with a rail of the towing vehicle, the safetychain engaging device comprising: a first bracket configured to besecured with the rail of the towing vehicle; a second bracket attachedwith the first bracket, the second bracket including a plate memberspaced from the first bracket; and at least one safety chain engagingmember secured with the plate member, wherein the safety chain engagingmember is configured to be laterally spaced from the rail uponsecurement of the first bracket with the rail.
 2. The safety chainengaging device of claim 1, wherein the at least one safety chainengaging member includes a pair of safety chain engaging membersconfigured to be laterally spaced from the rail upon securement of thefirst bracket with the rail.
 3. The safety chain engaging device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member ispositioned fore of the rail.
 4. The safety chain engaging device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member ispositioned aft of the rail.
 5. The safety chain engaging device of claim1, wherein the first bracket includes an aperture configured tocircumscribe a ball sleeve of the gooseneck hitch.
 6. The safety chainengaging device of claim 1, wherein the second bracket includes at leastone reinforcing gusset.
 7. The safety chain engaging device of claim 1,wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is free of contactwith the rail of the towing vehicle.
 8. The safety chain engaging deviceof claim 1, wherein the rail of the towing vehicle extends transverselybetween fore and aft rails of the towing vehicle.
 9. The safety chainengaging device of claim 1, wherein the rail of the towing vehicle is aframe member of the towing vehicle.
 10. A safety chain engaging devicefor a gooseneck hitch of a towing vehicle, the safety chain engagingdevice comprising: a first bracket having an aperture, the apertureconfigured to engage a hitch ball mount sleeve of the gooseneck hitch,wherein the bracket is configured to engage a portion of the gooseneckhitch below a load bed of the towing vehicle; a second bracket attachedwith the first bracket, wherein a plate portion of the second bracket islaterally spaced from the first bracket; and at least one safety chainengaging member engaged with the plate portion of the second bracket,wherein the at least one safety chain engaging member is spaced from andfree of engagement with the gooseneck hitch.
 11. The safety chainengaging device of claim 10, wherein the at least one safety chainengaging member is laterally spaced fore or aft from a frame of thetowing vehicle to which the gooseneck coupler is engaged.
 12. The safetychain engaging device of claim 10, wherein the at least one safety chainengaging member is positionable between retracted and extendedpositions.
 13. A safety chain engaging device for a towing vehiclehaving a gooseneck hitch attached to a transverse frame member of thetowing vehicle, the safety chain engaging device comprising: a firstbracket configured to secure with the frame member of the towingvehicle; a second bracket attached with the first bracket, the secondbracket including an engaging portion, wherein the second bracket isconfigured whereby the engaging portion is positioned outboard of theframe member upon attachment of the first bracket with the frame member;and at least one chain engaging member secured with the engagingportion.
 14. The safety chain engaging device of claim 13, wherein theat least one engaging member is positioned outboard of the frame memberupon attachment of the first bracket with the frame member.
 15. Thesafety chain engaging device of claim 13, wherein the at least one chainengaging member is free of engagement with the frame member.
 16. Thesafety chain engaging device of claim 13, further comprising anattachment member configured to secure the first bracket axially beneaththe frame member.
 17. The safety chain engaging device of claim 16,wherein the attachment member includes an elongated plate having atleast one fastening device, whereby the elongated plate is configured tobe positioned between the frame member and a load bed of the towingvehicle.
 18. The safety chain engaging device of claim 16, furthercomprising a guide device attached with the attachment member, wherebythe guide device is configured to position the attachment member. 19.The safety chain engaging device of claim 13, wherein the at least oneengaging member is positioned either fore or aft relative to the framemember.
 20. A method of securing a safety chain engaging device to atowing vehicle having a transverse frame member positioned below a loadbed of the towing vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providinga first bracket and a second bracket attached with the first bracket,the second bracket including an engaging portion; securing the firstbracket with the frame member of the towing vehicle, wherein theengaging portion is positioned outboard of the frame member; aligning atleast one chain engaging member with the engaging portion; and securingthe at least one engaging member with the engaging portion.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the engaging portion is positioned aft ofthe frame member.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the engagingportion is positioned fore of the frame member.